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MANGALORE/CHIKMAGALUR: After Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Udupi districts, Naxals' latest foray is into Dakshina Kannada. This is the first time that Uppinangady district witnessed Naxal activity.

On Wednesday night, Chandrashekar Gore, a farmer who owns a plantation at Muddige Mane of Hatyadka village in Belthangady taluk, was visited by Naxalites.

Around 11.30 pm, Gore heard noises near his house. He turned on the light outside to investigate the source. To his surprise, Gore found three strangers including a woman, two of them armed, standing outside his doorstep, said police sources. Gore did not open the door. The woman asked for food but was told there was nothing in the house.

A verbal altercation ensued for 10-15 minutes. The Naxalites even demanded money or gold, which Gore refused again. The Naxals gave up at this point and decided to leave. But before they left, they scribbled "Support Naxalism. Give money to Vittal Hegde (Naxal sympathiser)," on his walls.

Police said Gore saw the woman up close and the police department showed him photos of Naxalites to identify the woman. He zeroed in on one.

When the panchayat president, Jagannatha Gowda, and other leaders got to hear of the incident on Thursday morning, they informed the police.

A combing operation was undertaken and is presently being monitored by Puttur sub-division assistant superintendent of police, Harsha. Superintendent of police, Sateesh Kumar also made a spot visit in the morning.

Two anti-Naxal forces platoons and one section of anti-Naxal squad are a combing the area. One section of the District Crime Investigation Bureau (DCIB) is also probing the matter.

Poor response to bandh

A bandh called by the Naxals in and around the Kudremukh National Park area, Sringeri-Bajagoli and Kalasa-Bajagoli area, was unsuccessful. Government offices, schools and shops remained open in Nemmar, Melnemmar, Thyavna, Herur, Herurmakki. However, in places like Kerekatte in Sringeri taluk where the Naxal movement is intense, petty shop owners downed their shutters.

Private bus from Karkala to Nemmaru and Bukadibylu suspended their services for the day. Trucks carrying ore from mines to Mangalore were also missing from the road. The Times of India